Canucks find the back of the net seven times, extend streak to five games

Today’s matchup featured only one team with playoff aspirations while the other has been already been mathematically eliminated. Riding the high of a four-game winning streak, the Vancouver Canucks looked to add number five in their final game of the season against the Arizona Coyotes. They were looking to put an end to a four-game losing streak.

Thatcher Demko suited up for his third straight game in net, and second appearance against the Coyotes this season. With tonight’s game in the books, Demko has started the third-most games of any goaltender. The last time these two teams met, the Vancouver netminder turned aside 35 shots, while his opponent, Karel Vejmelka, surrendered 5 goals in a 5-1 Canuck victory.

Sitting six points back of the Los Angeles Kings and in a goose chase with the Vegas Golden Knights for the coveted third spot in the Pacific Division, the Canucks needed to answer the task against an Arizona team with the most shots allowed per game in the league.

First Period: Climbing In Front Early

Bo Horvat broke through a slew of bodies in the neutral zone for the first good look of the period. The captain was looking to pass the puck the entire way, but nearing the front of the net with the passing lane defended, he elected to get a shot on net.

Minus a few other odd men looks squandered early before they could amount to much, the first half of the frame felt like a waiting game. The Canucks were content with letting the Coyotes direct shots on net from the outside, and Arizona was more than happy to get the zone time, albeit a little bit more zone time than I imagine the Canucks would have liked them to have.

Luke Schenn, on the other hand, didn’t wait long to lay the body on Arizona forward Barrett Hayton, flattening him against the boards in the neutral zone. After that, the pace seemed to follow suit. Conor Garland was denied after being fed behind the back of the net. With an alert shoulder check, Vejmelka was able to anticipate on the scoring chance and hunker down on the post.

The home team, however, did end up getting the much-needed ice breaker from Alex Chiasson, who has made himself comfortable in front of the net. J.T. Miller spotted Chiasson heading to the net-front after he lifted the stick of a Coyote defender to gain puck possession for his team. Getting his stick set on the ice, Chiasson was able to redirect the puck home.

With a goal on their side, Vancouver got back to their heavy forecheck, forcing the Coyotes to hand over the puck and dumping and changing on the fly. However, on their subsequent powerplay, which now stacked up in the top ten in the league, the Canucks were stilled with passes meeting skates instead of sticks, interceptions, and an icing.

The next best chance of the game came after the power play, as former Coyote Brad Richardson was stoned not by the leg of goaltender Vejmelka, but by his defenceman who fell back at the side of the net to bail his goaltender out.

Minutes later, the Canucks got themselves another opportunity with the man advantage. The second unit doubled the lead after a point shot from Brad Hunt was tipped in the high slot by Sheldon Dries for his first goal since 2019.

Second Period:  Breaking It Open

The Canucks were dealt with an unfortunate blow to start the middle frame in the form of an injury to Horvat. The 30 plus goal scorer hobbled off the ice and into the dressing room after taking a shot right above the skate. He did not return and was later announced with a lower-body injury.  Post game, Boudreau remained hopeful about the situation.

Much like the opening period, the first couple of minutes of play felt like it was in cruise control. Nevertheless, an Arizona too many men call got the ball rolling from there.

Elias Pettersson notched his 60th point of the season with a slap shot rocked home from his spot on the left side. Picking up the secondary assist on the play, Quinn Hughes continued to get one step closer to chasing the Canucks record for most points and assists by a defenceman in a season at the ripe age of 22.

Down by three, Coyote forward Nick Ritchie was inches away from getting his team within two after his shot rang off the corner of the post and crossbar. The Canucks would hem Arizona in the following shift, but a cross-checking penalty on Hughes, ultimately allowed the away team to get themselves on the board.

Fortunately, it would be the only goal Arizona would pocket, and on the ensuing Canucks powerplay, Vasily Podkolzin hopped off the bench and muscled his way to the front of the net to tuck the puck in and restore the three-goal lead.

Vancouver wasn’t done there. Just 14 seconds later, Garland beat the Coyote goaltender cleanly over the glove.

Vancouver would tally their fourth goal of the frame with less than a minute to spare after Podkolzin finished a one-timer feed by Miller after some sloppy puck play by the Coyotes in their own zone.

On the back of a four-point performance thus far by Miller, the team was primed to close out the final 20 in the driver’s seat.